Government Internet Shutdowns Cost $19.7B in 2025 1/9/26, 2:49 PM Telegram accumulated nearly as many blocking hours as X (Twitter), largely as a result of Russia’s sustained crackdown on the platform, and by similar but more limited blocks in Togo. TikTok was blocked for a total of 14,646 hours, with around half of that due to Albania’s ongoing nationwide shutdown that began in March. Additional, shorter restrictions occurred in Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Notably, TikTok was blocked for almost twice as many hours as WhatsApp and Facebook, proving how short-form video platforms are quickly becoming priority targets for state censorship. Russia’s handling of WhatsApp in 2025 stands out as a clear example of an evolving censorship strategy. Rather than implementing an immediate, total ban, which risks political backlash and widespread circumvention, authorities pursued a phased degradation approach aimed at quietly eroding the platform’s usefulness and driving user attrition. From mid-August, Russian regulators began selectively restricting technical protocols used by WhatsApp, initially targeting Voice over IP (VoIP) calling and video functionality while leaving basic text messaging accessible. This approach allowed officials to frame the measures as technical or regulatory adjustments rather than overt censorship. The restrictions were rolled out unevenly, first affecting mobile connections and later extending to desktop access. This staggered implementation created inconsistent service quality while avoiding the visibility of a nationwide blackout. By the final weeks of 2025, WhatsApp had become functionally unusable for many users in https://www.top10vpn.com/research/cost-of-internet-shutdowns/ Page 16 of 33